Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

ततो देवाः सगं धर्वा इतस्ततः पलायितान् । संशोध्य तरसा राजन्ब्राह्मणानिदमब्रुवन्

Transliteration

tato devāḥ sagaṃ dharvā itastataḥ palāyitān | saṃśodhya tarasā rājanbrāhmaṇānidamabruvan

Translation

Alors les dieux, avec les Gandharvas, recherchèrent en hâte, ô Roi, les brāhmaṇas qui s’étaient enfuis çà et là, et leur dirent ceci.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Avyaya (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• सगन्धर्वाः: with the Gandharvas
• सगन्धर्वाः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — अव्ययीभाव: स + गन्धर्वाः = with Gandharvas

• इतस्ततः: here and there
• इतस्ततः: Avyaya (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय) + ततस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-युग्म — दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (hither and thither)

• पलायितान्: who had fled
• पलायितान्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलाय् (धातु) → पलायित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — PPP (kta), accusative plural; qualifies ब्राह्मणान्

• संशोध्य: having searched for
• संशोध्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + शुध्/शोध् (धातु) → संशोध्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-रूपकृदन्त (ल्यप्/gerund) — having searched out/located

• तरसा: swiftly; with force
• तरसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular (with speed/force)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन — Vocative singular (O king)

• ब्राह्मणान्: the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Pronoun, accusative singular neuter

• अब्रुवन्: said
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperfect, 3rd person plural: ‘they said’

Speaker

Devāḥ (gods) with Gandharvas (as messengers; narrative frame addresses a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājan (King)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas and gandharvas move swiftly through forest paths, calling out and guiding frightened brāhmaṇas back; the king is addressed in the narrative frame.

Characters & Entities

• Devāḥ
• Gandharvāḥ
• Brāhmaṇāḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

After danger passes, dharma is rebuilt by bringing the righteous back to their rightful duties and places.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, portrayed as a sacred settlement where brāhmaṇas and āśramas are re-established.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a narrative transition leading to reassurance and resettlement.